Questions and answers

The Ohma Ribbon and Condenser share one manual with specs, frequency response and care. The Ohmie’s specs are on its product page.

Standard 48V phantom power, from an audio interface, a preamp or a field recorder. That covers every mic we make.

The Ohma Ribbon is an active ribbon, so phantom power is safe for it. Unlike vintage passive ribbons, it needs no special handling. The Ohmie makes its 80V mode inside the mic, so it needs no special power supply either.

It depends on what you record and what you want the mic to bring. If you want one condenser that handles a lot of different jobs, from vocals and instruments to podcasting and field recording, start with the Ohmie. If you want a mic with a distinct personality, one you can shape with acoustic screens and build in your own colors, start with the Ohma Ribbon or Condenser.

Still deciding? Hear them side by side, request a demo of an Ohma, or tell us what you record and we’ll point you to the right mic.

They’re two very different microphone designs, both built and tuned by us in East Los Angeles. The Ohma is built around character: choose the transformer-coupled Debby condenser or the active ribbon, shape its response with swappable magnetic screens, and build it in your own colors, finishes and logo. The Ohmie is built to cover a lot of ground: a compact, transformerless condenser in anodized black, with a Dual Voltage switch for two different responses. Neither one is a step up from the other.

The Ohma Listening Library has the Ribbon and Condenser on every screen, across 13 sources. Each screen is its own take, so switching screens restarts the clip. Ohmie clips at 48V and 80V are on the Ohmie page.

Yes. If you are deciding between mics, screens or finishes, email info@ohmaworld.com or call 562-537-9933. The people who build the mics will help you choose.

Both are full and musical; it comes down to character. The Condenser is detailed and forward without harshness, built around our Debby capsule. The Ribbon is warm, smooth and spacious, a figure-8 design that takes the edge off bright or loud sources. Many people end up with one of each.

Your mic arrives in our drawer box, assembled, tested and ready to record, with the screens you chose already on. Inside: the mic, a mic clip that matches the fabric inside your mic (black or white), and two Ohma guitar picks for swapping screens.

If your build has custom logo screens, they come installed and your standard screens are in the box too. A pop filter arrives in its own box with a desk stand. Screen sets come in their own case with two more picks.

Yes. Every Ohma Condenser comes with a -16.5 dB in-line pad. Use it on loud sources like amps, kick drums or big vocals, or whenever your preamp is being pushed too hard.

We make the Debby condenser capsule and the ribbon ourselves in our East LA workshop. A ribbon takes about a week to reach its final tension, and a capsule about two weeks to settle into its voice. Every mic gets frequency sweeps and a critical listen before it ships, and condensers also get moisture and vocal tests.

The front has no screw hole. The back has the XLR mount screw hole on the stem.

Under the bottom screen on the back. Pop that screen off with a pick to see it. You’ll need it to register your mic and for warranty service.

Keep it dry, avoid drops, and store it in its box or a bag when you’re not using it, away from extreme heat and dust. The magnets can pick up tiny metal particles, so keep it covered.

Don’t plug or unplug the mic while phantom power is on. Mute before you swap screens, and take care when the mic has no screens on.

Yes. Our demo program sends an Ohma Ribbon or Condenser to try at home.

No. Ohma screens, clips and pop filters fit the Ohma Ribbon and Condenser only. The Ohmie has its own clip and its own pop filter.

The screens on the front and back are the first thing sound passes through, so their shape changes what the capsule or ribbon hears. More open screens let in more low end and room. More structured ones tighten proximity effect, focus the mids and calm plosives. Five screens, all magnetic:

Mute your speakers, headphones or the mic first. Slide the included pick (or the edge of a slim card) into the rectangular slot as far as it goes and lever the screen off the magnets. The notch protects the electronics, so the pick can’t reach them.

To put a screen on, set one bottom edge in place and let the magnets pull the other side in. You’ll hear a click and the edges will sit flush. Put the top screens back soon so dust stays out.

Lost the pick? Any extra-thick guitar pick works. Ours are 1.21 mm Delrin.

No. The bottom screens and the fabric are for looks only. For consistent sound, use the same top screen on the front and back. If you choose no fabric, the lower section stays open and shows the body color under the logo.

Years of working on vintage ribbon mics showed us the grille is part of the sound, not just a cover. So we cut patterns and tested them until each one sounded distinct, and kept the five that did. Other companies make separate models for different sounds; we made one mic you can change.

The Ohmie and its custom isolation clip. The Ohmie Pop Filter is $99 on its own, or $399 with the mic as The Ohmie + Pop Filter.

It changes the voltage on the capsule, which changes the sound. 48V is natural, relaxed and balanced. 80V is immediate, punchy and defined, and the mic itself is about 5 dB more sensitive. Use whichever sounds right on your source; try both and keep the one you like.

No. Both modes run on standard 48V phantom power. The mic makes the higher voltage inside.

The Ohmie takes about 3 seconds to warm up after phantom power comes on. That’s normal. Give it a moment before you record.

Less than you might expect. Its sensitivity is 32 mV/Pa at 48V and 57 mV/Pa at 80V. The Ohma Condenser is 15.5 mV/Pa, so the Ohmie runs about 6 dB hotter at 48V and about 11 dB hotter at 80V. Start with your preamp lower than usual.

Yes. Any field recorder with 48V phantom power runs it, in either mode.

No. The capsule sits on an isolated mount inside the mic, and the included clip isolates it again, so stand noise stays out.

It snaps onto the front of the Ohmie with magnets. No clamps or goosenecks.

Anodized black. Colors, finishes, screens and custom logos are part of the Ohma Ribbon and Condenser.

Inside the stem, where you plug in the XLR cable. You’ll need it to register your mic and for warranty service.

The demo program is for the Ohma Ribbon and Condenser. The Ohmie has 30-day returns, so you can try it in your own space.

Made to order in 4 to 6 weeks. Custom logos and special orders can take longer, because we approve your artwork before we start. A matching pop filter is painted alongside your mic and doesn’t add time, and if you order several mics in the same colorway, we finish them together.

In Build Your Ohma: the mic (Ribbon or Condenser), 24 body and screen colors or any color you pick, five screens, black or white fabric, the logo fill (including a Pride fill), your own logo, and a pop filter that matches your mic. Builds start at $899.

Ready to Ship mics are our core colorways, in stock, and leave in 2 to 3 business days. Made to Order mics are built for you in 4 to 6 weeks, with the full color library and every option. The sound and core design are the same.

Colors are Cerakote, a ceramic coating we mix, spray and oven-cure in our own shop, one mic at a time. Depending on the color, it can be textured or smooth, matte or glossy, and some have a fine shimmer. We also make solid brass bodies, hand polished and clear coated, and raw aluminum bodies, sandblasted and clear coated.

Yes. Pick any color with the hex picker in the builder and we’ll develop a recipe to match it. A screen can’t show a finish exactly, so expect the real mic to look a little different from the preview. For something more involved, start a special order.

For $199 we make two magnetic bottom screens cut with your logo, band name or artwork, finished to match your mic. If you add a matching pop filter, it gets a logo screen too.

Email your artwork to sammy@ohmaworld.com before you order if you can, with a link to your build. Vector files (AI, PDF or SVG) work best; a clean, high-resolution PNG with a transparent background also works. Bold shapes and clear lines cut best; very thin lines, tiny details and gradients usually don’t. We review every design and send a digital proof when it needs adapting. Nothing is cut until you approve it.

Probably. We’ve made all-brass patina mics, gradients, a Kintsugi-inspired mic, watercolor finishes and even wood screens. Special orders can take extra development, so start a special order and tell us about it.

Before we start, yes: email us. Once production begins we can’t change it, but screens can always be swapped and new ones added later.

Brass bodies and brass screens are hand polished and clear coated, but they still need regular cleaning to keep their shine.

It stops plosives, moisture and bursts of air before they reach the capsule or ribbon. It snaps into the bottom screen slot in place of the logo screen, so it always sits at the same distance from your mouth and your takes stay consistent. It comes off in seconds.

It’s made for the Ohma Ribbon and Condenser. Inside are two layers of mesh with a tuned air gap and low-resistance fabric, so it controls air without dulling the mic.

Black is lightweight, $79 when you build a mic or $99 on its own. Match Color is metal, finished to match your mic: $149 when you build, $199 later in a builder color, or $399 later in a custom hex color. A custom hex color is hard to match exactly after the mic is made, so add it with your build if you want it to match.

Yes. Shipping is free on every order, in the US and worldwide.

Ready to Ship mics, the Ohmie included, leave in 2 to 3 business days. Made to Order mics take 4 to 6 weeks.

Yes, for free. International orders ship FedEx with a signature required, so your mic isn’t left at the door. If there’s an Ohma dealer near you, you can also buy from them, and they’ll handle support. Any dealer can order the Ohmie for you, even if it isn’t in stock.

You do. International orders may be subject to local taxes, VAT, import duties and customs or brokerage fees, payable by the recipient. Your country sets these, not us, so we can’t tell you the exact amount ahead of time. FedEx usually collects them before or at delivery.

They aren’t included in your order total, and we don’t refund them if you return your mic. Your local customs office can tell you what to expect, and whether any of it can be reclaimed.

The package comes back to us. Once it arrives, we refund your order minus the return shipping and a 20% restocking fee.

30 days from delivery, on every mic, the Ohmie and bundles included. There’s no restocking fee; you pay return shipping. International returns: you pay return shipping, and duties aren’t refunded by us; your local customs office handles those.

Final sale: B-Stock mics, custom-painted screens, custom logo screens, and accessories bought on their own. A pop filter in a mic bundle comes back with the mic like any other return.

Email info@ohmaworld.com before sending anything back and we’ll walk you through it.

Every mic, the Ohmie included, has a 1-year limited warranty for the original owner from the date of purchase. It covers the internal components, electronics and workmanship. Register your mic and it becomes 2 years. Covered repairs cost nothing for parts or labor.

Bought from a dealer or on Amazon? Register on the same page.

Drops and impact damage, damaged connectors, accidents and misuse, shipping damage (claims go to the carrier), repairs by anyone we didn’t approve, altered or removed serial numbers, normal wear and aging, storage, moisture or temperature damage, power surges, liquid damage, and mics bought used, refurbished or ex-demo.

Full terms: this warranty does not cover (a) damage from physical abuse such as dropping the unit or impact from hard objects; (b) physically damaged connectors; (c) damage, deterioration or malfunction resulting from accident, negligence, misuse, or abuse; (d) any shipment of the product (claims must be presented to the carrier); (e) repair or attempted repair by anyone other than or approved by Ohma World; (f) any unit which has been altered or on which the serial number has been defaced, modified or removed; (g) normal wear and any periodic maintenance; (h) damage due to inappropriate storage; (i) deterioration due to perspiration, corrosive atmosphere or other external causes such as extremes in temperature or humidity; (j) damages attributable to power line surge or related electrical abnormalities (wrong voltage, etc.); (k) damage due to liquid contamination; (l) damage resulting from any use other than that it was intended for; (m) product purchased as ex-demo, refurbished stock or second hand; (n) any aesthetic alterations due to normal usage or aging.

B-Stock mics have small cosmetic marks, like a scuff or an uneven bit of finish. They sound exactly like any other Ohma, and we sell them for less. B-Stock mics are final sale and can’t be returned.

Yes, with rates as low as 0% APR, chosen at checkout.

Sign up and get 10% off your first full-price mic. It doesn’t apply to bundles, B-Stock, sale or limited mics, Pride mics, or accessories.